Dated for 1/4. Word Count: 300

Gabriel had his war. The whole of Inferni was behind him, and they were growing steadily. War, or perhaps just the excitement of battle drew strangers in to fight for a cause they knew nothing about. Or, more obvious still, the winter ahead was going to be a rough one, and they needed the protection and aid of Inferni in order to survive—even if this meant risking their lives fighting Dahlia de Mai and its insane leader. Still, new blood was more people who could defend the territory, and this alone was worth letting their standards fall just slightly.

Of course, more bodies meant that the cache of food they had stored near the mansion was going to shrink. This was something that could only be prevented by hunting often, or by making sure that when they did hunt larger prey could be taken down. With this in mind, Gabriel made his way across the snow, four legs moving with ease over the areas that had been well packed down by constant travel. They had managed to cut lines into the territory like great scars, making obvious the patterns traveled. The caves to the borders, and these intersected with the mansion. Still, a few smaller ones suggested others had explored further and been bolder. Hopefully, though, they would maintain the diligence that Gabriel expected.

He made his way back from the borders, and towards his mother’s den. Though he did not know what he could further do to comfort her, he knew what made him relaxed and happy—and physical exercise was a part of it. Rather then barging in, as he previously had, Gabriel stopped just outside of the cavern’s opening and let out a bark, unsure as to which of the two females he might find inside.

Word Count: 308

It was not surprising that of the two, Vieira was the first to greet him. Gabriel was pleased that she looked well—though he was not sure what well was for her, and only assumed her thin and small appearance was what was expected. She had no outstanding marks on her body, and she had not yet come to him, but he was glad to see she managed to greet him without cowering as she had before. Of course, he had not come intending to raise all hell. His purpose today was much simpler, and without such fury behind it. Even now, he felt a slight amount of guilt having confronted her so crossly. It had not been she who was at fault, and by all accounts, neither was his mother. This was something that even Gabriel didn’t fully know how to deal with, but he figured as long as the younger canine was safe (well fed and cared for) it couldn’t be all that bad.

“Vieira,” he greeted her, though did not move forward at the invitation. If his mother was sleeping, he did not want to further disturb her, given all that had recently occurred. He remembered Talitha sleeping often, and having been told (either by her mother or by Corona, he couldn’t remember) that sleep was required for the healing process to move forward. With war upon them, he needed Kaena on her feet and ready for battle, not wallowing in self pity. So, if she needed sleep, she needed sleep. “I actually came for help,” he said, eyeing up the sandy coyote as one might a racehorse. “If she’s resting I’ll take you instead.” After all, even though she was a slave, Vieira would be able to help with the hunting process. That was something that everyone had learned to do, after all, right?

Word Count: 232

Though he caught her slip up, Gabriel ignored what she said and remained still, waiting for her return. Once the girl returned, he nodded shortly and turned back out into the frosty air. He did not pause for long, instead moving at a brisk pace down the small slope and towards the much wider expanse of the Waste. Only once they were a few feet away from the cave did he spare a glance to his much smaller companion, flicking one dark ear towards a loud bird somewhere closer to the forest. “We’re going hunting,” he informed her, turning his head back to the path before them.

Lower his head and slowing slightly, Gabriel’s large body followed a small path cut into the fresh snow, moving further north and deeper into the full expansion of the Waste. He intended to find something large, figuring that with two hunters it would be more reasonable. Especially since he further intended to bring back their kill to his mother, ensuring both women and himself a decent meal. There would no doubt be less time to ensure fresh kills of such a bounty given that their numbers were growing, as well as the ever present threat of Dahlia de Mai at their borders. Gabriel’s energy could only be split so far, and at least this way he’d be assured his still recovering mother ate as well.

Word Count: 370

With his head low, Gabriel began scenting like a tracking hound. There were well over a dozen unique smells, ranging from the coyotes themselves to prey animals. Most were small, either rodents or rabbits, and not his concern. What he was looking for was the all too unique scent of deer. He found one, very prominent, and was glad for it. A doe, most likely, given that it did not carry the woody musk that a buck would. Even with help, Gabriel was hesitant to hunt buck, given that their antlers were just as deadly as the sharp hooves that they had. Not knowing what Vieira’s skill level was, Gabriel did not intend to throw her at something that could kill her in more then one way.

Once he had found that scent, he began following it. The trail was not very fresh, but it was just enough to give him an indication of where to go. Without the need for conversation (having recalled how awkward his last one with her had been), Gabriel was silent. All four legs moved under his body, trotting along at a steady pace, following a trail cut through the snow that headed towards Occasus Promontorium. This was entirely unusual for a deer, considering there was no cover. Likely, they were dealing with a young doe who had been spooked and run off by something (possibly another coyote). Her scent began to grow stronger, suggesting they were indeed on the right track. This was further confirmed as he came across tracks.

While three seemed to be regular, her fourth leg was dragging slightly, suggesting a limp. Even better. If they could spook her and get her down, there would be no need to chase the stupid thing all over the valley. Hopefully this would be the case, given that it was likely the flat stones would become very dangerous with snow and ice on them. Slowly his pace, the Aquila finally turned his attention back to his smaller companion. “We’re going to try and do this quickly,” he said. “If we can knock it down then the kill will be easy. Watch out for the rocks around here, “ he added, then began moving again.

Word Count:221

So focused was he on their goal that Gabriel barely noticed how clearly it was Vieira was uncomfortable with the situation. He had not stopped to consider she might lack any sort of skills, assuming as he always did that it was impossible for anyone to simply not know how to survive. Children managed it, as proven by Mason, and by all accounts she had made a long and perilous journey here alone. Still, he did not expect much from her—if she could run, that was all he needed. They could spook the doe and he could bring her down without any problems; at least, this was his intended plan.

His speed dropped considerably, and his body fell into the slow, stalking walk of a predator. Gabriel’s patience was endless, and he knew that they would need to wait until the last possible second in order to make this kill. “Go around,” he said lowly, gesturing to a small path along the slope of the hill. “And try and chase her back this way.” If she could manage that, then Gabriel would be able to meet the deer head on and break her. It was a simple plan, something he had done a thousand times before, and it wouldn’t be hard at all.

At least, that was what he thought.

Word Cound: 305

It was a simple plan, really. Gabriel had practiced and successfully taken down deer in this fashion many times over, even as recently as a few weeks ago, with Anu. Now, though, he was dealing with a much smaller female and one who, though he didn’t know it, had no experience in the field of hunting. Never once had it occurred to him that perhaps his mother hadn’t been lying when she tried to explain how much Vieira needed her help. For good or bad, he was about to see that this was in fact the hard, cold truth.

If there was one thing to be said about Gabriel, it was that his patience had become nearly endless. In his youth there had been nothing but a short tempered, snappy boy. After everything that had happened to him, he could no longer consider anything less then the endless wait. It was a skill that allowed him to hunt so well, though he often would lose smaller animals due to their speed versus his much larger, slower body. Even though Gabriel liked to pretend he was a coyote, there was no denying that in his build, he was a wolf.

Gabriel rushed out of his hiding spot, all four legs pounding against the ground, sending his large body towards the doe. Her scent flooded his nose, and his amber eyes locked with her chocolate-black. There was a moment where he was certain she would continue, to rush towards him, and then suddenly those dark eyes rolled back and something unexpected happened. The doe spun sharply on her tall legs, nearly stumbled, and as Gabriel drew close she kicked out at him, forcing the coy-wolf to veer sharply and lose his momentum as she began scrambling towards the rocky face of the nearby hill—and towards Vieira.

Word Count: 317

Though a deer charging at a coyote would otherwise be less then dramatic, Gabriel was startled to see what Vieira did. Instead of rushing forward, and trying to go for the throat, she dropped to the ground. He nearly stumbled, horrified, but the doe was not slowing down and Vieira was not reacting. Swallowing the pain that sprung out of his shoulder, Gabriel pushed ahead quickly, increasing his speed and coming up to the deer’s side. He snapped at her, driving her away from the smaller coyote, ducking as a hoof came flying towards his face. Though off course, the doe was no longer attempting to kill Vieira, which was the whole goal from his frantic push.

Luckily, as he and the doe hit the side of the mountain, her bad leg equaled out to his handicapped shoulder. She stumbled, and hit slick ice, and Gabriel threw the last bit of his strength into leaping into the air. He collided with her side, and his momentum sent them both crashing into the snow. In a flurry of white powder, snapping teeth and flailing hooves, Gabriel managed to find her throat. He was kicked once in the side, and felt that razor sharp hoof cut through his skin, but the fight was over. Gabriel crushed her windpipe with all of the force his jaws could muster, and slowly, her frantic kicking slowing as her lungs began to collapse. Finally, the death rattle vibrated through his teeth and he knew it was done.

Bleeding from the side, and panting heavily, Gabriel favored his right leg and sat down in the snow, unable to think straight. He hurt, and he hurt from the cut on his side and the aching muscle in his left arm. Even without the pressure on it, the old wound ached and pulsed and he was unable to even begin to consider what had just happened.

Word Count: 225

Each breath escaped his mouth in a cloud of steam, and his tongue rolled out of his mouth so that his body could cool down. Even though he was not paying attention to it, his front legs were trembling. The left remained elevated, keeping his weight off the shoulder so that it might regain some feeling. There was only a small amount of blood that was not his own, and it was invisible against his black muzzle, showing only on his off white teeth. The wound on his side was not deep, but it was bleeding into his thick fur and turning the tawny gold dark scarlet.

The only other form of life came creeping towards him, and he turned his head to find her face. Vieira looked as if something had fallen out of the sky and crushed her, forcing her down, low, and he could not for the life of him recall what he had expected from her. Still, it had not been that. After a long few moments to regain his composure, Gabriel sucked in the cold air and spoke quietly, more startled then anything else. “What happened?” He asked, using the same tone he would if it had been a child spooked during a hunt. He was aware she was young, but he had not believed her to be so inexperienced.

Word Count: 210

It seemed like her voice was distant, and sounded terrified. He wondered, then, how many years she had been abused to make her believe everyone was out to get her. If she could not raise up arms to defend herself against a doe, what would she do when the war came? Lingering doubt became conscious then, and he swallowed, suck more cold air in through his nose and lifted his head to finally meet her face. His amber eyes met her yellow ones and he found that rather then the woman he had left with, he was now looking down at a child. How had he missed this before?

“I know,” he said, and coughed loudly. Every part of his body ached, but he no longer wanted to be in the cold, and no longer wanted them exposed as long as he was wounded. “No one ever taught you to hunt, did they?” He didn’t believe that such a thing would ever exist, but his knowledge of her world was one that was limited. That bastard who had bred with his mother was no doubt used to using women, which was doubly apparent in Vieira’s petite, uneducated frame. “Are you okay?” He asked, shifting his weight on the cold ground.

Word Count: 530

She didn’t know how to hunt. This concept was alien to him, and one that made Gabriel wonder exactly what had been going on in her southern home. Still, he was pleased to hear that she was okay, which meant that even though he had a cut on his side he wouldn’t have to explain to his mother as to why her woman-child had ended up being killed by a deer, of all things. It was a cruel thought, but a smile danced across his face, wondering just how Kaena would take such news. Well, it didn’t matter—they had survived, they had food, and he had a better understanding of just how pathetic his mother’s ward really was.

“No, it’s not your fault,” he said quickly, sighing and shaking his head nearly dumbfounded. “You really,” he continued, pushing himself to his feet with a grunt. “Need to speak up more. I didn’t know.” Had he, there would have been little point in taking her. Despite her ignorance, she had performed well until the end. They had been incredibly lucky; if she or he had been seriously injured hunting, he would have been furious. Inferni could not afford anyone to be out of commission, even someone who barely knew how to hunt. Despite the fact he ached all over, there was no way Gabriel would be able to drag the deer back to Kaena’s den with his teeth alone. Holding his breath, the Aquila began to shift to his Optime form. It was a slow process, and as he did so, the ache in his shoulder and the cut on his side both twisted and screamed out in pain. Gabriel exhaled, and grimaced as his side began to bleed more openly.

Staggering up to his feet, the coy-wolf bent over, grabbing the doe by her hind legs. He had no doubt that Vieira would follow him if he began walking, so he did not stop to ask her to follow. Pulling the deer down to the flat section of the area around them, he squatted down and gripped the legs of their prey, lifting it over his shoulders as one might carry a calf. The journey back to the caves was slow going, because even though the deer was skinny, the weight felt horrible against his aching shoulder. Still, Gabriel refused to let his be apparent, and walked on with only the faintest grunts to indicate he felt any pain at all. The wound on his side stopped bleeding, but his fur remained stained with a darkening reddish brown. It was not major, and by all accounts if not for the smell and the fact his fur was matted, it might have passed for his much darker top coat.

As they neared the caves, Gabriel slowed, finally, and stopped to speak. “Go tell Kaena to come help me,” he said, and slid the deer off of his shoulders and onto the snowy ground. It had been far too much, and his shoulder screamed with each moment. Once his mother made it out and to him, they could both drag the carcass up and take care of it inside her den.